Planoqiiaph co



APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. |917- RENEWED JUNE I7. l9l9.

L. s. AND R. G. CARLETON.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

Patented J lily 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

TMI: COLUMBIA PLANouRAPM C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

L. s. AND I1. G. CARLI-11011.'

`\ TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.a.1911. RENEwED JUNE 11. 1919.

1,31 1 ,755. Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THB coLUMBlA PLANDGRAPM co.. WAsMlNd/ION. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

g LAURENCE SIBLEY CARLETON AND ROBERTr GARDNER CARLETON, F DAVENPORT,

IOWA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed December 3, 1917, Serial No. 205,158. Renewed .Tune 17, 1919. Serial No. 304,920.

i To all whom t may concern.'

i the following is a specification.

Our y resent invention pertains to traflic signal cevices for use on automobiles; and it contemplates the provision of a simple and eflicient apparatus through the medium of which an automobile driver is enabled to apprise drivers behind him as well as the trafiic officer in front of him of his intentions respecting the movements of the automobile.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the peculiar construction, novel combinations and adaptation of parts, as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which are hereby made a part hereof:

Figure 41 is a side elevation showing a portionof an automobile equipped with our novel device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detail View showing the signal arm by dotted lines in its extended position and by full lines in its idle position.

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the device.

Fig. 5 is a section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6'is an enlar ed detail section illusltrative 0f the aetuatlng device employed on the automobile dash. y

ASimilar numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all the views of the drawings.

Among other elements ourl novel signal device comprises a casing body 1, preferably of aluminum, `and provided with a back closure plate 2 on which is a mirror 3, designed to enable the driverl to see back of the machine. The said casing body 1 is hollow and is fixed in transverse position above the left-hand fender 4 of an automobile, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The said fixture is effected through the medium of a forwardly extending arm 5 on the casing body, which arm 5 is adjustably fixed at 6 to a standard 7, fixed to and rising from the fender. In

the outer edge of the casing body 1 is an opening 8, Fig. 2, sufficiently large for the free play of the signal arm 9, best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The said signal arm comprises an outer portion, which is preferably though not necessarily of general circular form, Fig. 2, and a shank 10 on the said outer portion; the said shank being pivoted at 11 in the casing body and being provided with an angularly-disposed arm 12, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

On its forward side the outer portion of the arm 9 is designed to bear the word Turn or a word of similar import, designed to inform a traffic ofiicer that it is the intention of the driver to turn at a crossing, and on the rear side of said outer portion 9 the word Stop or a word of like meaning is provided, designed to convey the intention of the driver to the operators of following vehicles. Vith a view to attracting the attention of persons in front of and in the rear of the automobile to the signal arm 9 at night, we `provide an incandescent lamp 13 which is arranged to illuminate both sides of the arm 9, as best shown in Fig. 3, and on both sides of the said arm 9 we provide reflecting flanges 14, designed to throw the light downwardly on the arm sides. l/Ve also provide on the said flanges 14 depending guards 15, disposed in front and rear of the lamp and equipped with red glasses 16 so that a red light will be displayed at each side of the signal arm.

Fixed to and extending between the casing body 1 andthe dash 17 of the automobile is a iexible tube 18, of suitable material, a portion of which extends in the casing body as shown in Fig. 2 and isclamped or otherwise suitably fixed thereto. Through the said tube extends a steel wire 19 through the medium of which the signal arm 9 is actuated. This wire 19 is connected at one end to the angularly-disposed portion 12 of the signal arm, and is carried through the tube 18 and is connected at its opposite end to the plunger 2() of the actuating device best shown in Fig. 6, the connection being preferably effected by extending the wire and the tube 18 into the plunger and securing the wire to the plunger by set screws 21. The said plunger 2O is provided with a finger ring 22 at its rear end, and is disposed and movable in a easing 23. The tube 18 is retained in the easing by the tube enlargement 18, and the plunger is movable on the tube vportion within the casing. The casing 23 is fixed to the dash 17 and serves to effect connection of the tube 18 to the dash.

By virtue of the mechanism thus. farde scribed, it will be manifest thatn when the automobile driver pulls rearwardly on the plunger 20, the signal arm 9 willbe yswung from its pendent position within' the casing Vbody 1 to the-extended position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, while when the driver releases the AVplunger 20, the arm`9 will gravitate back to its idle position Within the casing body l.

The Vfilament of the incandescent lamp 13 i arranged in the upper portion ofthe casing body l, which'terminal is connected through wire 33 with one pole of a battery 34 carried in a box on the .forward side of the body'l.V

The other side of the electric Mcircuit is grounded to the casing body l. Thuswhen the arm 9 is caused to assumethe position "shown'by'dotted lines in Fig. 2 thel terminal 3l willbe carried into contact with terminal 3.2, and the filament of the lamp will be 'caused' to glow, while when the'arm 9 gravitates back into `the vcasing body, the termi- ;n'al 31 will be carried 'out of contact Vwith terminala' 32 and the supply of current to the filament of the klamp will be interrupted.

To save current in the daytime a switch 314C is provided.. f It will be gathered from 'the foregoing that our novel signal device is simple and ieflicient, and that its arrangement on an automobile vis, calculated to enhancey rather 'than'detract Vfrom the finished appearance of the latter.

Having described ourinvention, what we 'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A .traffic signal device for automobiles comprising a hollow casing supported at the front portion of Vthe automobile and provided with an opening -in its outer edge, a signal arm pivoted within the lcasing adapted to swing out of and into said casing and 'having a transverse opening formed through V'the-peripheral portion vof said signal arm, reflecting flanges mountedI o`n=beth-sidestof :said arm, a lamp disposed within said open-V ing with portions extending under'` the flanges,adepending guard disposed in the -front and the rear of said lamp, whereby the lampwill throw the light downwardly and illuminate substantially the entire `area of I bothfaces of the armfa't thesifme'time.--

2. A traiic signal device for automobiles comprising a hollow casing 'supported at v the front portion of the automobileand vhaving anv opening Vin its outer edge, a signal arm pivoted within the upper portion ofthe cas,-

ing adapted to swingout'of and yi'ntorsaid 'casing and having a transverse opening therethrough, reflecting flanges moi-intedon both sides of `said arm, aflainp disposed withins'aidopening, a depending guard disposed in the front and the rear of'said lamp,

veach guardfbeing equipped with a 'red glass 'so that a red light will"besimultane'ously displayed at each side of the saidsigrial Varir'i'. Y' 3. A trafhc signal ffor automobiles ceni-` vprising a hollow casing"supportednear the vfront portion ofthe autoh'iob'ileand having' an opening at its outer edge, a signal arm pivoted Vwithinthe casing adapted -t'o swing Yo'u't of and into said casing-and pivoted tov an integral shank at its upper vend, said'sh'anl having 'an integral eXtensien VVat lright angle thereto, in combination with a tubular" c'asing arranged longitudinally of'the automo-V bile and Xedly secured through the'dash thereof, a flexible tube`v extending 4i'nt'othe feo upper portionf'o'f Vsaid hollw casingl provided with an integral Venlargement fitted against an annular eitensi'on lformed within the-tubular casing,`r`a movable plungerwithin said tubular casingsurroui'ding'said tube and a eXible wire secured at one endtosai'd plunger and its opposite end lixedlyj` secured to the outer endportion ofthe'integral 'eX- t'ensiongat right angle to .the signalr armand `within'the` upperfendof the first lnamed casing. Vln testimony whereof-we v'have 'hereunto set ourh'ands in presence of 'two subscribing witnesses. Y

ROBERT GRDNER' GARLET'ON.'

Witnesses: Y i Y V'E'neutrali D. GARDNER,

CARL H. LAMBACH.

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